i need help usmle step 1

hi i have my exam next month and i am confused , i need to meet someone who had recently the exam to guide me , please help me

 

Hey, and welcome!

Could you provide us with some more info about your background? Ie, where you are in school (year/location). What sort of goals do you have for the exam? The TestPirates community would love to help you succeed, but will need to know a bit more about you!

 

Hi I am preparing for usmle step 1
I am graduated from other country and I live in Chicago
My exam end November but I thonk I will prolonge it 3 months

 

Hey there! I am also an IMG and was doing research for 3 years so I had to fill several gaps and I am still not confident with what I know. I was supposed to sit my exams in Chicago too in January but I prolonged it and now I am sitting my exams in March. Unfortunately it feels like you will sit your exams earlier so perhaps you will have your experience to share. I have scheduled my Step 2 CS first (it was coincidental due to the extension I got for Step 1 but it turns out that perhaps it might be for the best because I am much more confident in my clinical knowledge and skills than in my basic science so it might help me feel a bit more comfortable with the exams and be less anxious...just saying)... Even though I am not the best person to advise you right now perhaps being in a similar position might help you.. My advice to you would be to stick to your plan.. I would suggest First Aid for Step 1 and UWorld and then if you feel like you have any gaps just search in google..plenty of info there and it will help you stick things together in FA. I also use Memorang and I got the paid power-ups because I am doing many things in parallel and have zero time to make my own flashcards..plus I feel more comfortable when I know that people are being paid to verify the info given all the time. It has done miracles with my memory because I really have terrible memory. So try any space repetition system along with FA and UWorld and I am positive you will digest the info easier. Remember that the point is not just to memorize things but to catch the concepts in order to apply them in clinical scenarios. This is why I love testpirates.com because I needed some practice and seeing the explanations in previous NBMEs has been helping a lot so make sure you spend some time to review that. I have not found any better source for that and a more updated forum with supportive users so make sure you use that for boosting your results! I would suggest the two self assessments of UWorld plus the most recent NBME timed in order to increase your stamina, limit your stress for the real exam and make sure you are in the score range you aim for before going to the center. Generally keep a good sleeping, working, studying schedule and ensure that this matches your exam day plan in order to have the best performance during those hours... chocolate, energy drink..whatever works is great for your break time there too! These are the pieces of advice I have gathered the last few months and seem to be working out for me but again I am still trying to get ready for March! Good luck to you!!!